Jan. 31, 2004

LAS VEGAS - Newcomer Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis rallied to win a third-set tiebreaker to give the 37th-ranked UNLV women's tennis team a 4-3 victory over New Mexico State at the Fertitta Tennis Complex Saturday.

Playing in sunny but windy and cool conditions, the Lady Rebels (2-0) began the morning by taking two of three doubles points for one team point. However, the Aggies (1-1) quickly tied things in singles play with a straight-set win at No. 2.

With the five other matches all going three sets, the team score eventually was even at three apiece after Lady Rebel wins by Cindy Treber at No. 4 and Claire Smith at No. 5.

With all eyes on Court Three, Ortiz-Luis, a junior transfer from Cal Poly Pomona, split the first two sets vs. Fanny Rollet by the same score of 6-2. Despite building a 5-2 lead in the deciding set, Ortiz-Luis was ultimately forced into the tiebreaker and, after falling behind 5-4, won the final three points to end it, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

"This was a difficult match for multiple reasons," UNLV head coach Kevin Cory said. "We played a talented team in tough conditions with a lot of new players. We were certainly tested and I am proud of how we came together as a team to get the win."

UNLV closes its season-opening three-match homestand vs. Weber State Sunday while NMSU will face UNR. Both matches begin at 10 a.m.

UNLV WOMEN'S TENNIS RESULTS
#37 UNLV 4, NEW MEXICO STATE 3
At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas

DOUBLES -- (UNLV EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)
1. Abram/Ortiz-Luis (UNLV) def. Mayr/Porobic (NMSU)    8-12. Zsiros/Smith (UNLV) def. Fintell/Rollet (NMSU)      8-63. Opala/Mignot (NMSU) def. Treber/Constanti (UNLV)    8-5
SINGLES -- (UNLV EARNS THREE TEAM POINTS)1. Lejla Porobic (NMSU) def. Gyorgyi Zsiros (UNLV)        2-6, 7-6, 6-42. Isabelle Mignot (NMSU) def. Agnieska Abram (UNLV)      6-2, 6-33. Anne Claire Ortiz-Luis (UNLV) def. Fanny Rollet (NMSU) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5)4. Cindy Treber (UNLV) def. Nicole Fintell (NMSU)         3-6, 6-1, 6-05. Claire Smith (UNLV) def. Aline Opala (NMSU)            6-4, 4-6, 6-06. Sara Baker (NMSU) def. Mery Constanti (UNLV)           6-3, 1-6, 6-4